India: 100 Days of Sonia + Manmohan Singh Congress Government

1. Hits and misses of UPA's first 100 days – SiliconIndia: “‘If you ask me ministry-wise, I feel home and finance ministries have been the best performers in terms of quick action and implementation,’ said industrialist Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is also a member of the upper house of parliament.

Amit Mitra, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), specifically mentioned the direct tax code, the budget, the Right to Education Act and the railway budget as areas where the government has shown it means serious business.

On the flip side, experts found little movement in areas like telecom where the policy on spectrum for third generation telephone services was decided only Friday. Even in the power sector, they felt strategy needed fine-tuning to get more capital.”

“I will count you the targets they (the government) themselves set for the first 100 days. Women’s Reservation Bill, right to education, food security act, judges’ assets bill, plus a plethora of other infrastructure building promises. And then look what we have achieved,””

3. The wind of the 100 days – Views – livemint.com: “Pressing issues such as managing the drought and reviving a slowing economy have received only ad hoc attention. There are other matters of great importance for the long-term future of the country that have not been addressed. How to initiate the next round of economic reforms? How to arrive at a meaningful consensus on climate change in the country? How to deal effectively with Pakistan and China?”

4. The Pioneer > Online Edition : >> At the end of 100 days: “The President listed 24 things the UPA Government would do in its first 100 days in office. They included internal security and preservation of communal harmony and stepping up of economic growth, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and services. The President also mentioned consolidation of the existing flagship programmes for employment, education, health and rural infrastructure besides introduction of new food security and skill development programmes. Women empowerment, including early passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, and constitutional amendment to provide 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and urban local bodies were also mentioned. Action for welfare of weaker sections and minorities besides disabled and senior citizens and governance reform were the other points covered in the President’s address. The other important areas were prudent fiscal management and energy security.

the biggest setback for the Government plans on economy came from the failure of the monsoon, resulting in 171 districts declared as drought hit and the agriculture ministry battling with the drought. The kharif crops are lost and the only hope is the rabi crop for which the Government has hiked the minimum support price. ”

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